Scottish Wingsuit Flyer Dies in Alps  

26th June 2025

British champion Liam Byrne, 24, was critically injured in a jump from the Gitschen mountain in Switzerland.

He was described as a very experienced wingsuit flyer and had completed more than 4,000 jumps during his 10-year career.

In a statement the authorities said three wingsuit pilots had jumped shortly before noon on Saturday, and the accident happened shortly afterwards.

His family have issued a statement.

“We would like to remember Liam not just for the way he left this world, but for how he lived in it.

“Liam was fearless, not necessarily because he wasn’t afraid but because he refused to let fear hold him back.

“He chased life in a way that most of us only dream of and he soared.

“Skydiving and base jumping was more than just a thrill for Liam – it was freedom.

“It was where he felt most alive.”

Mr Byrne from Aberdeenshire, featured in a 2024 BBC documentary called The Boy Who Can Fly.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) confirmed it was supporting the family of a British man who died in Switzerland.

The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland and the Cantonal Police of Uri said the accident is being investigated.